Provincial boys team latest milestone for Konigshofer

Julia Konigshofer, who once honed her game at Centrefield Sports, continues to achieve new heights in her pursuit to represent Team Canada.

Now living out east, Julia Konigshofer is playing for multiple teams this summer, including Nova Scotia’s provincial 15U boys team. (Photo: Darryl Gershman).

For Julia Konigshofer, it’s not about breaking glass ceilings, it’s about taking charge on the mound. It’s about having the game on the line, the ball in her hand. It’s about sizing up the batter. A one-on-one battle of wits. Power versus power.

The ball diamond has become a home away from home for the Dorchester, Ont. native. It’s where she shines. Where she feels at home. Where she’s in control and her passion and desire for the game is showcased.

Just this past month, her young career hit yet another remarkable milestone as Konigshofer earned a roster spot on the Baseball Nova Scotia 15U boys’ team. It’s not only the first time a girl has ever made that provincial team, but it’s believed she is the first to do so in Canada.

And it didn't take long before the whispers began as she toed the rubber to start her first game.

“When I came out to the mound, I could hear the other team saying, ‘Is that a girl?’ They knew they were playing the provincial boys’ team and they’d never seen a girl on the team before, so I did feel some pressure,” said the 15-year-old, who has already showcased her talents across Canada, the United States and Latin America.

“But I feel like I play best when I’m under pressure. It didn’t phase me at all and, in fact, it gave me an extra edge to show them what I’ve got.”

Deciding to try out for the boys’ team was not about Konigshofer taking a stand. She wasn’t looking to right a wrong. There was nothing political about it at all. In all honesty, she was looking to better her game and welcomed the hard work that it took to reach the accomplishment.

Konigshofer had played on the 16U girls’ provincial team in Ontario for two years before moving to Nova Scotia, in 2018, to attend Newbridge Academy. Upon her arrival to the east coast, she earned a spot on the 16U girls’ provincial team where she was a starter for the squad for two years.

“I just needed a new challenge for myself. I think you always need to challenge yourself if you want to get better,” said Konigshofer, who will also suit up this year with the Kentville 15U AAA boys’ team and the Baseball Nova Scotia Senior Women’s program during a busy summer.

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For the love of the game. Everyone remembers that moment when they felt that baseball was talking to them, like the bat was calling their name. For Konigshofer, it was a family outing to Florida a number of years ago when the baseball bug first bit her. Her grandparents live a short drive from Charlotte Sports Park, spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays. While soaking up some sunshine and listening to the crack of the bat during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, she had an epiphany.

She told her parents as soon as they got back home that she wanted to sign up to play baseball that summer. Avid fans of the game, her parents, Trista and Mike, thought it was great idea. Just one problem, though.

“So, we got back home, and my dad thinks that I want to play softball. He didn’t realize I wanted to play baseball,” recalled Konigshofer, who attended Dorchester’s Northdale Public School. “So, we get to the table to sign up and I realize it’s softball and I said, ‘No, I want to play what the Blue Jays play.’ So I signed up for hardball.”

It didn’t take long for Konigshofer to dominate. In just her second year playing for the Dorchester Diamondbacks, the 10-year-old was selected to be part of a USA Girls’ 11U program based in Florida – serving as the only Canadian on the team. Seeing the potential, she began training full-time in London at Centrefield Sports.

Konigshofer was soon selected to the MLB Trailblazer Series in California, she joined the Team Ontario 16U female baseball program, and she played at the Baseball Canada 16U Girls National Invitational, becoming, at age 11, the youngest player ever to make that team.

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Cory Boutilier, technical director with Baseball Nova Scotia, and Konigshofer’s trainer and pitching coach, said he’s not surprised in the least to see her crack the boys’ team. He’s worked with numerous provincial players, both female and male, and has never seen an athlete with such drive and passion.

“Since I first saw Julia as part as the Ontario program, everyone knew she was special,” he said. “Seeing Julia’s story unfold, it doesn’t come as much surprise to me. Although all eyes are on her now, I’ve been seeing her dominate this sport on the female side for a few years now. She’s been setting the stage at all levels she plays at, 16U, 21U and the national level. Why not make the switch and let the other side see how special she really is.”

Photo: Darryl Gershman

Working with her the past three years, Boutilier has seen solid improvement with Konigshofer’s overall strength, velocity and power. But the biggest development has been her confidence and determination.

“She’s never satisfied. If it’s improving her numbers in the weight room, trying to get faster, or making the next team she’s trying out for, she’s determined to make it and has the swagger to back it up,” he said.

Speaking of numbers, they speak for themselves. An 86mph exit velocity, 78mph pulldown, 305lb squat, 115lb bench and 345lb deadlift. An average week would be 3 to 4 weight sessions, hitting every day (tee work, front toss or live) and pitching twice a week. And there’s been times where she’s wanted more.

“It just shows the amount of work she puts into her craft and it’s why she’s having such success anywhere she plays,” said Boutilier. “I don’t consider her to be a great athlete because she’s a female, I consider her a great athlete because whatever you put in front of her, she’s able to take it and make it seem like she’s been doing it for years. She takes every challenge in stride and only stops for water.

“It’s great she is being recognized as a female athlete achieving so much, but if you ask her, she’s focused on a lot more than that. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her, because the sky is the limit.”

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It was quite a busy year when Konigshofer turned 12. She was part of the Ontario Trailblazers, playing in her first international women’s’ tournament in Washington, DC., where she hit .500. She played for the Carolina Voodoo at the National 12U tournament in Cooperstown N.Y., a week-long event featuring the best 12U teams in the U.S.

And she made quite the impression, hitting a pair of home runs and tossing a one-hitter. Representing Ontario at Baseball Canada’s 16U Girls National Invitational, she picked up a team game MVP honour along the way.

“Baseball is a team sport, but what I love about pitching is I feel I control the game when I’m on the mound,” said Konigshofer. “When I’m pitching, when I have the ball, I can set the pace. I provide a lot for my team that way.”

Turning 13, and a member of the Ontario 14U provincial girls’ team, she was part of the first all-female team to win a boys’ peewee tournament, hitting a pair of home runs and pitching two one-hit games, taking home two game MVP and tournament MVP honours.

After batting .700 for the Team Ontario 14U at the Western Championships in Saskatoon, Konigshofer followed that up by playing at the Baseball Canada 21U Girls National Invitational, representing Nova Scotia. She led her team to victory over Team Quebec (for the first time in the tournament’s history), throwing 105 pitches and allowing just one run. She was awarded game MVP, the youngest player ever to earn the honour.

It was 2018 when she moved to Nova Scotia to train. The Waverley, Nova Scotia resident is now at Lockview Public High School, where she’ll be entering Grade 11 this fall. Her baseball training is now handled through One Last Rep, a sports training centre started by Boutilier and Konigshofer’s father, Mike.

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Baseball Nova Scotia’s 15U boys’ team head coach Allan MacDonald doesn't mince words when talking about Konigshofer.

“She’s a name to watch in the future,” he said, adding he knew little about her prior to the 15U ID camps. With more than 70 athletes looking to stand out and catch the eye of coaches, MacDonald said it takes a special athlete to get noticed.

“She just continued to prove her athleticism, quick thinking, good decision-making skills and baseball IQ,” he said. “She is a very competitive and skilled player, which is what earned her a spot on the team. Selection on a provincial baseball high performance team requires focus, hard work, skill and determination – all which Julia has shown.”

MacDonald is quick to note Konigshofer’s strengths, including the impressive amount of confidence and maturity she shows on the mound and her patience at the plate, which is continuously improving. A solid, all-around player, her strength and conditioning training has paid off, he added.

“This is a wonderful accomplishment. She is breaking baseball boundaries and deserves to have the same sporting opportunities regardless of gender,” said MacDonald. “Although this is history making, being the first female baseball player on a male team, it is also important to be accepted and respected at this level – which she is.

“At the end of the day Julia just wants to be part of this team, be treated with fairness and let her baseball skills dictate who she is as a player.”

And Koningshofer is not intimidated with this level of play, MacDonald continued, noting she is always striving to find ways to improve her game and contribute what she can to the team.

“Her success to this point, and her willingness to up her game is a testament to her baseball talents,” he said.

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It was a big deal. Being the first girl to be named to a boys’ provincial team. It doesn’t happen all the time. In fact, it had never happened until Konigshofer got the nod. She recalls this historic moment when, like most teens, she was relaxing in the basement watching a little TV.

“My dad called me and told me to look at the Baseball Nova Scotia website,” she said, adding the excitement level was quickly ramped up. “I was yelling at my mom, ‘I made it, I made it.’ I probably interrupted a meeting she was in, but I was just so proud of myself for being the only girl on the field.”

She made the team, which was great. It’s official. But would she be part of ‘the team’ atmosphere every player craves – being accepted, so to speak, as ‘one of the guys.’

“I feel like all of my teammates, once they saw that I’m just like them and can bring something to the team, were great about me being part of the program. It’s not about me being out here trying to prove a point, but simply putting in the work, making great plays and contributing to the team. I’m just a girl, that’s all. That's the only difference.”

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Coming off being named Minor Female Athlete of the year by Baseball Nova Scotia in 2019, Konigshofer was geared up for a big 2020. She attended the Canadian Women’s National Team Identification Camp in Cuba, where she spent a week learning from some of the country’s top players and coaches with the national program. Showing she belonged, Konigshofer would not only pitch, but showed her skills in the infield and outfield. For good measure, she racked up a .667 batting average for the week.

A few months later, she was named to the Team Canada Prospects squad by the Women’s National Team, putting her one step closer to her ultimate goal of making Team Canada.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic put a halt to game activities, but she would continue to work hard training, always looking to find ways to improve her game.

“I’d been working a lot on my hitting and fielding in the offseason, seeing my exit velocity up about 12 to 15 miles an hour, which is always a plus. I’m also really happy with my pitching right now,” she said, adding her repertoire includes a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a changeup and a curve. She’s definitely hanging with the boys with her fastball lighting up the radar gun around 76mph.

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With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, particularly out east, it's a full schedule this summer for Konigshofer. She's playing for three teams, including, of course, the 15U boys’ provincial team, Kentville 15U AAA boys’ team and the Baseball Nova Scotia’s Senior Women’s Program.

Konigshofer was one of 35 athletes recently invited to the Women’s National Team Showcase in Trois Riviere, Quebec. This summer’s ID camp is a perfect opportunity to train alongside talented female athletes from all over Canada while learning from players and national team coaches as they come together in the week-long event.

International women’s events require athletes to be over 16 years of age, and Konigshofer won’t hit that milestone until later this year, so she will have to wait for the next international tournament to be set to become eligible. Until she hits the magic age of eligibility, she will continue to train, continue to push herself out of her comfort zone and continue to blaze paths for other young women in the sport who see no limits to where their skills can take them – perhaps a scholarship to a major U.S. university.

“I like the weight of my team on my shoulders and to have a ball in my hand when the game is on the line,” said Konigshofer. “I like the mind game of thinking about what I’m going to throw, what pitch the hitter’s expecting, knowing their weaknesses and how I can use that to my advantage.

“I’m at my best under pressure – it’s when I throw my hardest and when I locate the best. Baseball is such a mental game, but it’s also about having fun and staying loose. And for sure, I’m still having fun.”